Debswana and the Ministry of Health have sealed a deal to improve the health status of communities in the mining areas of Boteti, Southern and Kweneng districts. The two partners have through a joint programme dubbed Botsogo Teemane penciled a strategy to implement six health focus areas aimed at taking the health status of communities to desirable levels.
“We are now in a position to transition from concepts to tangibles in so far as health is concerned,” remarked Rachel Mothibatsela, Debswana Executive Head of Corporate Affairs during a discussion this past week.
The Botsogo Teemane programme is anchored on Memorandum of Understanding signed last July by the partners zeroing on health and wellbeing areas of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Botswana Vision 2036 ‘Prosperity for All’ and the Debswana purpose to ‘Make Life Brilliant.’
Mothibatsela noted that the partners have a little under six years to deliver against the strict 2030 timelines of the SDGs.
“Our commitment as partners should ensure that the six years do deliver tangible programmes that transform our communities,” she emphasised.
The six focus areas to be structured into a programme are:
- SGD 2 – Malnutrition
- SDG 3.1 – Maternal mortality
- SDG 3.3 – Infectious diseases
- SDG 3.4 – Non communicable diseases
- SDG 3.5 – Substance Abuse
- SDG 3.8 – Universal health coverage
Of utmost importance, she said, is the fact that Batswana have proposed to Government that Health be made a right and not a privilege as per the gazetted Constitutional amendments (Bill No 4 of 2024).
“Our Diamond story would be incomplete if it is devoid of the positive social impact we have had on our people and our efforts towards improving for the better,” noted Mothibatsela.
MoH Deputy Permanent Secretary Moses Keetile encouraged the partners to work round the clock to deliver practical solutions and avoid being deceived by the five year implementation period which may seem to be ample time while the inverse is true.
“Let us be reminded that we are almost a year into our partnership already, hence the need to move with speed to attain our goals in the remainder five years.”
Upon completion, Keetile noted, the program should leave a well-documented mark of impactful stakeholder collaboration in delivery of health care services to the communities.
Among other headline performance indicators, said Keetile, will be the extent to which the programme focuses on preventative rather than curative means of dispensing public health care.
Through an inclusive collaborative approach Debswana, two years ago, initiated discussions with the Ministry of Health who are, by statute, custodians of community health at national level.
Based on the recommendations of diagnostic studies in the Debswana areas of impact, the two partners eventually agreed on key areas aimed at proactive multi-sectoral intervention on health in an endeavour to migrate from the current curative care approach.
Debswana spends over P264 million each year running two district referral hospitals in Jwaneng and Orapa which serve in excess of 200 000 patients per annum. Debswana has also contributed to infrastructural development of health facilities in Botswana such as the expansion of the Letlhakane Maternity wing, and construction of a fully-fledged Maboane Clinic at a cost of P11 million. These interventions have assisted in improving access to primary health care by Batswana in alignment with Vision 2036 ambition of Achieving Prosperity for All.
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For more information, please contact:
Matshidiso Kamona
Senior Corporate Affairs Manager – Brand and Stakeholder Relations
Debswana Diamond Company
Mobile: +267 – 71330897
About Debswana
Debswana Diamond Company was established in 1969, and it is owned in equal shares by the Government of the Republic of Botswana and De Beers Group. It is one of the world’s leading diamond producers by value and volume. Debswana operates four diamond mines in Orapa, Letlhakane, Damtshaa and Jwaneng. The company is a major contributor to the national economy of Botswana – contributing significantly to the gross domestic product, foreign exchange earnings and government revenues. Debswana is one of the largest private sector employers, with over 5500 employees and over 6000 contractors. Debswana is also the largest contributor to the De Beers Group rough diamond production. The company is committed to mining safely, optimally and responsibly, as well as making a meaningful contribution to the development of communities around its mines and the nation at large, thus making life brilliant. For further information visit www.debswana.com.
